Caterer sentenced for tax evasion

Peltier to pay restitution, serve home incarceration and detention

Robert Peltier, one of two principal owners of Ranch Catering, was ordered to pay $222,822 in restitution today (March 15) for tax evasion in operation of his business. Federal Judge Janis L. Sammartino also sentenced him to serve six months home incarceration and six months of home detention. According to court documents, Peltier in 2003 deposited proceeds from the business in two bank accounts, but provided his tax preparer with the information from only one bank. In a separate settlement with the Internal Revenue Service, Jason Peltier, Robert's son and co-owner of the business, is paying $505,435 in back taxes, penalties and interest.

White collar criminals always get the light touch. A crime of this magnitude warrants at least 5 years in prison. Those of us who line up like sheep each year to pay our taxes should be outraged at this ridiculous sentence. Any judge who would hand out a light sentence for a serious crime like this should be off the bench. This is a joke, not a sentence. Judge Sammartino is a Bush (league) appointee.

Burwell: It does seem light. But it's easy to understand since AG Eric Holder says he doesn't prosecute banks if an economist thinks it will destabilize the economy, and the candidate to head the SEC, Mary Jo White, says the same thing. Finally, somebody is admitting that the law has a double standard: one for the rich and powerful, and another for the rest of us. Best, Don Bauder

tomjohnston: I have heard Mickelson interviewed several times, and he seems intelligent. But he certainly didn't sound intelligent the time that he said he was thinking about moving out of California because taxes were too high. Best, Don Bauder